Shawon Dunstonsaid he's appreciative and grateful that Jackie Robinsonpaved the way for African Americans and wishes baseball history can be more fully understood on many levels.

"Some of these young guys, they think they invented the game," said Dunston on Tuesday, which was Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball. "We all thought that way. I did, too."

In an interview, Dunston, 51, a Giants special assistant and video adviser, reeled off a laundry list of baseball legends, black and white, who he thinks ought to be more fully appreciated. For example, he cited Joe DiMaggio's amazing ability to put bat on ball - until DiMaggio's final season, he had more homers than strikeouts.

"You know what kind of stat that is? I struck out 100 times my first year," Dunston said.

During batting practice, Dunston was the only African American in a Giants uniform. On the dwindling numbers of African Americans in the majors, Dunston said, "It's going to change back. Nothing stays the same. It'll come back."

Dunston said he taught his son, Shawon Jr., 21, a Cubs prospect, about the impact of previous generations including Robinson.

"I'm in the game because of him. I live comfortably through baseball with the help of Jackie Robinson," Dunston said. "If I were 15 years old, I'd want to play baseball. I like football. But I love baseball. I don't want to play a video game. I want to be in a video game."

PA announcer Renel Brooks-Moonread a touching statement from Monte Irvin, 95, one of the Giants' first two African Americans. Irvin called Robinson "my dear friend" and had a message for players: "Enjoy the game you have the privilege to play."

Briefly: Reliever Jeremy Affeldtwill be activated from the disabled list Wednesday, manager Bruce Bochysaid. ... Bochy said Marco Scutarostill isn't close to rejoining the Giants. "He has real good days and days we have to back off a bit," Bochy said.

On deck

Wednesdayvs. Dodgers

7:15 p.m. Channel: 11

Maholm (0-1) vs.

Vogelsong (0-0)

Thursday

vs. Dodgers

12:45 p.m. CSNBA

Ryu (2-1) vs. Bumgarner (2-0)

Friday

at Padres

7:10 p.m. CSNBA

Cain (0-2) vs. Ross (1-2)

Leading off

Busy shortstop: Brandon Crawford received about 75 texts since Sunday's walk-off homer and tried to respond to everyone. "It was kind of nice to have the off-day," he said, after returning from Cloud 9.